Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Most Recent Additions to My Book Collection

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana at The Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is the The Ten Most Recent Additions to My Physical Book Collection. These were not necessarily added this year, but were the most recent to find their way into my TBR collection in recent months.

Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith ~ I do not read YA romance very often, but this one is for an upcoming book club, and sounds like it will be good!  

Our Moon: How Earth's Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are by Rebecca Boyle ~ A recommendation from Stephanie of Bookfever I couldn't resist.  

The Song of Orphan's Garden Nicole M. Hewitt ~ I have followed the author's blog, Feed Your Fiction Addiction, for years and was excited to hear about the upcoming release of her middle grade novel. And it's in verse, which I love! I am just waiting for my pre-ordered copy to arrive at the bookstore! 

Bloodchild and Other Stories by Octavia E. Butler ~ This past year I read a couple of full-length novels by Octavia E. Butler, both of which were amazing reads. I wish I could remember which of you recommended I try her short stories, but I found this collection at a local independent bookstore and look forward to giving it a try. 

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende ~ Another upcoming book club read. Allende's books have been hit and miss for me (one I liked, the other I didn't care for) and so I admit to being a little on the fence about reading this one. But it does sound good.

The Afterlife of Mal Caldera by Nadi Reed Perez ~ This was a spontaneous buy while at the bookstore one day. It sounds like something I would enjoy. 

The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today, Vol. 4, 5, and 6 by Hitsuji Yamada ~ I enjoyed the earlier volumes in this manga series and look forward to reading more. 

Murder by Degrees by Ritu Mukerji ~ This is an upcoming book club read I am looking forward to reading. 

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston ~ This book was all the rage when it came out, but I wasn't really interested in it at the time. I came across it while visiting a new independent bookstore in the next town over and thought to myself, "Why haven't I read this yet? I bet I'll love it!"

A Happy Poem to End Every Day by Jane McMorland Hunter ~ Because a little something positive to end my day would not be a bad thing, especially these days.

Have you read any of these books? Do any of them sound like something you would enjoy? What book(s) most recently landed on your TBR pile? 

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© 2025, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Weekly Mews: Bookish Thoughts on Lavender House & On the Edge/A Look Back to What I Was Reading Ten Years Ago

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

Nina is staring at me. She does that a lot. Sometimes with wide eyes and other times, like now, with half closed eyes. And there. She chirped at me. Just a little mew. She has been extra playful lately, chasing Gracie around the house and attacking my ankle playfully when I walk by her. It's the little joys.

It's been a week. We went to pick up the mail at the post office today, and I am missing a couple of packages and other mail that my informed delivery e-mail earlier in the week says were delivered. For those who weren't here last week, our communal mailbox was broken into about three weeks ago and so we have to go to the main post office to pick up our mail. So the packages should be safe at the post office. Maybe they misfiled it all. I hope they find it by the time we go back next weekend to pick up this coming week's mail. One of the neighbors was saying they were told by a postal worker that 80 mailboxes have been vandalized or broken into throughout the area. It's no wonder the lines at the post office are so long.

Work was okay this past week, but in office days are always more exhausting than the days I am able to work from home. I am not sure why exactly, considering I do the same thing in either place. Mouse is sick, which means the rest of us will likely be getting sick as well. Oh, and the garbage disposal is broken again. I still haven't taken my Christmas decorations down. I really need to do that this weekend. We are still under fire watch in my county, but it doesn't seem quite as bad now that the winds have died down; at least for now. I have seen some of the news stories about the Palisades Fire which is only 49% contained. I cannot believe how rent prices in L.A. are soaring right now. It's shameful how there are those who will take advantage of someone's misfortune just to make more money. The temperatures are starting to get cooler and perhaps that will help some. 

I am grateful for this three day holiday weekend. My husband has to work, but Mouse and I have the day off. I am  hoping to get in some quality reading time.

What have you been up to?

I just began reading The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) by Nita Prose, January's TBR winner, and am about to start The Temple of Fortuna (Wolf Den #3) by Elodie Harper, my next historical fiction book club read. I did not make much progress in my current nonfiction book, Being Mortal by Atul Gawande this past week, but I am taking it one slow. I hope to finish it before the end of the month, but we'll see. 

What are you reading right now? 

This past week I finished three books. Let's take a look! 

Lavender House (Evander Mills #1) by Lev A.C. Rosen
Forge, 2022
Mystery/Historical; 304 pgs
Source: Own TBR

Lavender House, 1952: the family seat of recently deceased matriarch Irene Lamontaine, head of the famous Lamontaine soap empire. Irene’s recipes for her signature scents are a well guarded secret―but it's not the only one behind these gates. This estate offers a unique freedom, where none of the residents or staff hide who they are. But to keep their secret, they've needed to keep others out. And now they're worried they're keeping a murderer in.

Irene’s widow hires Evander Mills to uncover the truth behind her mysterious death. Andy, recently fired from the San Francisco police after being caught in a raid on a gay bar, is happy to accept―his calendar is wide open. And his secret is the kind of secret the Lamontaines understand.

Andy had never imagined a world like Lavender House. He's seduced by the safety and freedom found behind its gates, where a queer family lives honestly and openly. But that honesty doesn't extend to everything, and he quickly finds himself a pawn in a family game of old money, subterfuge, and jealousy―and Irene’s death is only the beginning.

When your existence is a crime, everything you do is criminal, and the gates of Lavender House can’t lock out the real world forever. Running a soap empire can be a dirty business. [From the Publisher]

My mystery book club met this past Thursday to discuss the January read, Lavender House, the first in a historical mystery series by Lev A.C. Rosen. Count me among the members (all of us) who loved it. While the whodunit may not have been a big surprise to most, other aspects of the novel more than made up for it. There is a definite noir influence in the way the novel is written and how the story unfolds. It is a fairly straightforward mystery with no real side stories to compete for the reader's attention. The novel opens with the protagonist, Evander "Andy" Mills, getting drunk in a bar. He feels hopeless and desperate, having lost his job as a police inspector because it is discovered he is gay. When a woman walks into the bar to ask his help solving the murder of her wife, Andy is reluctant, but she soon talks him into it. 

The Lamontaine estate, called Lavender House, is nothing like Andy has ever seen or experienced before. He's always had to keep that part of himself hidden, wearing a mask day in and day out, careful to hide his sexuality and knowing it will not just cost him is job, but everything else as well. I was especially taken with how Rosen is able to demonstrate how significant insignificant moments were to Andy because they were experiences he had never had. Hands touching, heads on shoulders. Little moments of intimacy and love shared openly. 

Each of the characters were richly drawn, their backstories compelling. At first I wasn't too fond of most of the residents of Lavender House, each one a suspect in their own right, but that changed the more I got to know the characters. There was one point while reading that I turned to my husband and told him I didn't want any of them to be the killer because I liked them all. Well, mostly all of them. There were one or two characters that I didn't warm too. That old adage of not judging a book by its cover holds for people too. You never know what a person is going through--or has been through--unless you take the time to get to know them.

Rosen captures the time period very well. I am kicking myself for not recognizing the double meaning in the title right away, especially after reading books like Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo and Pulp by Robin Talley. The Lavender Scare was a horrible time in U.S. history with mass job firings and blackballing, normalizing persecution and spreading moral panic of anyone who was or was believed to be homosexual. It at the height of McCarthyism. It's an interesting choice for the title of Rosen's novel and the name of the Lamontaine family home to bear the word Lavender in them. Lavender was Irene's favorite flower and scent, which is how Lavender House got its name, and I like that the author reclaims the word here.

There were some tense and brutal scenes in which the reader is given a glimpse of how cruel people, especially those in authority were at the time, but there was also the occasional moment of kindness and hope. While it's nice to think we have come a long way since that time, in many ways unfortunately, we have barely scratched the surface and sometimes it feels like we are sliding backward.

*

On the Edge (The Edge #1) by Ilona Andrews
Ace, 2009
Romance/Fantasy; 340 pgs
Source: Own TBR

This wasn't a novel I ever saw myself re-reading and even questioned whether I would continue after years of not picking it up, but I was motivated by the the COYER Ilona Andrews' Edge and Inn Keeper read-a-long, and I have no regrets about joining in. I thought it would be interesting to compare my initial thoughts on this novel and compare it to my thoughts today. The indented italics portions are my review from September 14, 2010.

After finishing the first four books of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye just yet. My husband recommended I read On the Edge by the same author. Although set in a different world, the premise of On the Edge intrigued me. The Edge is that in-between place between the Broken (our world) and the Weird (the magical one). Rose was born and raised in The Edge and had lived a hard life. After her mother's death and her father ran off for adventure, Rose is left to care for her two young brothers, one of whom is a changeling and the other a necromancer. Rose has her own power, one that has brought her nothing but grief over the years, especially when it comes to love. In walks Declan Carmarine, a blueblood from the Weird. He challenges Rose, asking her to give him three challenges, and if he wins, he wins her. Rose is determined to stump him and make him leave empty handed. As if that isn't enough, an evil has come to the Edge and is threatening to destroy it.

I first read On the Edge nearly 15 years ago and gave it a 3.5 paw (Good+) rating. I had fallen in love with the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews around that time, and had high hopes for the Edge series. I liked it, but wasn't as smitten with it as I hoped to be. 

While On the Edge has an obvious romantic component at its core, the story of this small community of people and their daily struggles, both with magic and without, as well as the mystery, finding the source of the evil and the attempt to rid the area of was what drew me in. As someone who prefers any sort of book to be light on the romance and heavy in other areas, I thought there was a nice balance of the two.

On the Edge has more of a paranormal romance feel to it than an urban fantasy one. My enjoyment of romance has grown in recent years, and I wondered if that would impact my enjoyment of  On the Edge on the second go around. While I do agree with my view that there was a good balance between the romance and the more action/thriller elements in the novel, upon re-reading it, I found the romance to be a little less satisfying. It wasn't quite as fully developed as I think it could have been. I definitely was drawn more to the non-romance story-line.

Rose is a strong heroine and yet vulnerable. She is softer than Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels from her other series. You don't often run into heroines in urban fantasy series that are acting as single mothers, and so having Rose caring for her two young brothers who have special needs added an extra layer of complexity--and heart--to the novel.

It has been awhile since I have read a Kate Daniels novel, and so whether I still believe Rose is softer than Kate, I cannot say. In re-reading the novel, I had less patience for Rose at times, her prickliness and stubbornness tried my patience at times. It is understandable given her history why she is the way she is, given all she has been through. Declan in the re-reading comes off as too perfect. On the plus side, Rose is very much his equal. Georgie, Jack and their grandmother were my favorite characters.

The mix of the ordinary versus the fantastical was well played in the novel. It was very believable and well thought out. The authors, a husband and wife team, have proven yet again that they have a gift for world building. 

I continue to be in awe of Ilona Andrews' skill in world building. On the Edge is full of eccentric characters, interesting supernatural creatures, and a well crafted setting. I most enjoyed getting to know (again) the residents of the Edge and their interactions with those in the Broken. The mystery/thriller element and the history of who was behind the bad things happening in the Edge kept me captivated. I liked how things played out in the end. Overall, my initial rating of 3.5 paws (Good+) stands after re-reading the novel.

*

This past week, I also read Schooled in Murder the first in the Campus Sleuth cozy mystery series by Victoria Albert. I shared my thoughts on it this past Friday if you want to take a look (just click on the title)!

What was the last book you finished? Would you recommend it?  

A monthly feature in which I l share the books I read that month ten years ago. 

(Rating Scale: 5 Paws=Outstanding; 4 Paws=Very Good; 3 Paws=Good; 2 Paws=Okay; 1 Paw=Didn't Like)

The titles are linked to my original reviews of each book when available. 

I began tracking the books I read in late 2003. I like to look back on what I have read over the years and thought it would be fun to add a monthly feature in which I share the titles I read that same month ten years ago. January 2015 was a month for mysteries! I read two historical mysteries, both of which I remember fondly even today. Rich Zahradnik's mystery was atmospheric and suspenseful, and Tessa Arlen wooed me with her wonderful characters and a great sense of time and place. Windy City Blues was an an enjoyable read, but I admit I do not remember much about it. 

That January ten years ago, I also read a book of poetry, Joy Street. I always struggle with reviewing poetry because it is so personal. That month I also read A Man Called Ove, which I absolutely loved, and still think of fondly. 

Last Words (Coleridge Taylor Mysteries #1) by Rich Zahradnik

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Windy City Blues (Jules Landau Mysteries #2) by Marc Krulewitch

Joy Street by Laura Foley

Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman (Lady Montfort Mystery #1) by Tessa Arlen

And because it's my favorite Storygraph chart, below are the moods related to my January 2015 reading: 

Do you track your reading? Do you remember what you were reading all those years ago? Have you read any of these books, and if so, what did you think? 

I am really enjoying Agatha All Along. We have been watching an episode a night when we are able, and have about two more episodes to go. It's so good! I have enjoyed most of the Marvel Universe shows, and am glad to finally be watching this one. I recently started watching the show, Evil, on a whim. It's a mix of supernatural and mystery. I like it so far. 

What have you been watching lately? 

Following in the footsteps of Deb of Readerbuzz - With all the worries and stressors in life, 

I want to highlight some of the good, even the seemingly small stuff. 

1. I met with the Cellar Door Book Club last weekend for the discussion of Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. It was a packed group, with about twelve people in attendance. Everyone loved the book and we had a good discussion. As one member said, this is a book that could be discussed over several meetings and we still wouldn't be able to touch on everything. 

2. Also, this past week, I joined the mystery book club for the first time, in which we discussed Lev A.C. Rosen's Lavender House. I worried that I would not finish the book in time, but I did. We had a lively discussion, and I am so glad I was able to go. 

3. Mouse came up behind me to give me a kiss on the top of my head tonight. Which reminded me of all the times my husband, Mouse, and I go in for a group hug. I am not much of a hugger outside of my immediate family, but I sure do love family hugs. 

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

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© 2025, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Where Is Your Bookmark: My Bookish Mewsings on Schooled in Murder & Other Friday Fun

This week I finished reading Victoria Gilbert's Schooled in Murder and wanted to share my thoughts on the book along with a of couple excerpts with you. 

Along with this mini review, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion of Rose City Reader and First Line Friday hosted by Carrie of Reading is My Super Power, as well as Friday 56 hosted by Anne of My Head is Full of Books, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.  

I stumbled over several things in my thirty-two years of life, including my words and a few relationships, but never a dead body. [opening of Schooled in Murder]

               ★                    

Zach’s expression grew stony. “You’re still going to pursue that, despite the threats?” 

I looked him in the eyes and smiled. “Of course. Why else would I be here?” [excerpt from 56% of Schooled in Murder]

Schooled in Murder (Campus Sleuth Mystery #1) by Victoria Albert

Berkley, 2025; 304 pgs  

Mystery/Cozy

Source: The publisher via NetGalley

My thoughts: I read and enjoyed the first book in Victoria Gilbert’s Blue Ridge Library cozy mysteries, which I understand has a connection to this new series. Not having read more of that series didn’t stop me from enjoying Schooled in Murder, and I don’t really think reading one before the other is necessary. This new series is set around Virginia’s Clarion University, featuring mystery writer Jennifer Dalton who heads up the university’s writing center. She also happens to be a published mystery author, whose knowledge comes in handy when she decides to help clear the name of a student accused of murdering a professor on campus. Jenn teams up with her friend, Brianna, the school librarian, and Christine, a cafeteria manager, as well as the university’s psychologist, Zach Flynn, to solve the crime. Jenn and her co-amateur sleuths come up with a list of suspects, all of whom have various motives for wanting the professor dead. The investigation becomes even more complicated when another body is found, with everyone wondering if it is another murder or just an accident. There’s also the fact that someone doesn’t like that Jenn is sticking her nose where they don’t think it belongs. 

Schooled in Murder was an enjoyable cozy mystery with an interesting cast of characters. While not exactly trained in investigations, Jenn’s long standing mystery book series gives her a slight edge in knowing what to look for in their real life murder mystery she and her friends are now investigating. I really liked the inclusion of a cafeteria manager sidekick. She can provide a different perspective, not to mention may be able to get information others aren’t able to given how people seem to overlook those in service positions like hers. Despite there being plenty of suspects, Jenn never lost sight of the possibility that Mia, the student accused of the murder, could still be the killer, even if she didn’t want it to be true. I thought that was smart on Jenn’s part, trying to stay objective while acknowledging her own bias. She wasn’t without her blind spots though. I cannot say too much about the mystery itself without risk of spoiling the whodunit, but I will say there were aspects of the mystery that seemed pretty obvious, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the author did that on purpose. There’s something meta about a mystery author writing a mystery with a protagonist who is also a mystery writer.  

There is a thread of romance in the novel, which was well played. What starts out seeming to be annoyance with each other subtlety takes a more teasing note as the novel progresses, so when Jenn finally acknowledges her attraction to Zach, it comes naturally. The mystery was solid and had some tense moments. The university setting was a great backdrop for this story, touching on literary snobbery, misogyny, and a bit of academic politics.  I found it to be an entertaining read all around. I look forward to seeing what direction Victoria Gilbert takes the series next. (And maybe I should continue with the Blue Ridge Library cozy mysteries in the meantime!)

Does this sound like something you would enjoy? If you have read it, what did you think? 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

What book have you most recently re-read? Did your opinion of the book change?

I re-read Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver in December to refresh my memory for a book club meeting that was held this month. I had initially read the hardcover version of the book over the summer and decided to revisit the story via audiobook the second time around. It’s the first time I have re-read a book in the same year (at least one that wasn’t a children’s book). I loved it both times.

I am close to finishing re-reading On the Edge by Ilona Andrews for Anne’s COYER Ilona Andrews' Edge and Inn Keeper read-a-long. I was not as smitten with On the Edge as I had been with the Kate Daniel series by Ilona Andrews, but I did enjoy it the first time around. It is not a book I likely would have picked to re-read had it not been for the read-along. But since the first time I read it was in 2010, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to refresh my memory. Surprisingly, I remember quite a bit of it! My opinion of the novel so far hasn’t changed too much, although I find myself more critical of some aspects and yet admiring the world building a little more.

Are you a re-reader? What was the most recent book you re-read? 

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Have you participated in Sheila’s FIRST BOOK OF THE YEAR? [submitted by Submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver’s Review]

I did not this year, but I have in the past, including convincing my husband and daughter to join in a couple of years in a row and even my mom one year. Sharing with other readers what book we plan to read first in the new year is a fun tradition to be a part of. I love seeing what books everyone else starts the year off with! 

Do you participate in the First Book of the Year event? What was your first book of the year?

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

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© 2025 Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Goals and Plans for 2025

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana at The Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is Bookish Goals and Plans for 2025. I thought I would keep in simple this year, but it appears I may be biting off more than I can chew. The fun is in the reading though, and if I meet my goals it's a bonus!

Read more nonfiction ~ I am joining Shellyrae at Book'd Out in her 2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge as a Nonfiction Grazer. I plan to read (and review) at least six nonfiction books this year.  Some of the books I am considering include: 

Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times by Gregory Boyle
Our Moon: How Earth's Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are by Rebecca Boyle

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Angela Cartwright

Finding Me by Viola Davis

Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling of America's Suburbs by Benjamin Herold

I've Tried Being Nice: Essays by Ann Leary
Unbecoming a Lady: The Forgotten Sluts and Shrews Who Shaped America by Therese Oneill
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City by Jane Wong

Read at least three books my daughter recommends to me ~ Mouse and I have very similar tastes in books, and I can't wait to see what she picks for me again this year.

Continue catching up on my series reading project ~ A never-ending project considering how many series I am in the middle of and all the news ones I start. Last year I told myself I would catch up with both Kim Harrison's Hollows series (as of right now, I need to read 3 books to catch up) and Shannon Messenger's Keeper of the Lost Cities series (I am two behind), which I did not manage to do. I am closer though at least. This year I for sure will do it. That is, if my daughter will let me read her copy of Unraveled (Keeper of the Lost Cities #9.5). I am also interested in the COYER Ilona Andrews' Edge and Inn Keeper read-a-long hosted by Anne of Books of My Heart. I have read a few of the books in the two series, but look forward catching up with them, and maybe re-visit a few of the books along the way. Unfortunately, chances of my being able to participate in the group discussions are slim due to scheduling, but it's still a good excuse to finally get caught up! 

Read and review my TBR List Poll winner each month ~ At the beginning of each month, I list three books from my TBR for you to vote on, and then I read the winner. It's fun to see which book my blog visitors pick of the three choices each month. This past year I didn't always get around to reviewing the books I read, but this year I will make more of an effort to do so.

Book Clubs ~ I am declaring this year as my Year of Book Clubs. It's true that I have a propensity to overcommit as evidenced by the many years I overdid it on reading challenges (but they all sound so good!). And as a mood reader who has difficulty sticking to reading plans and lists, you'd think I would have learned my lesson. I join one book club at the local bookstore and enjoy the experience so much that suddenly I want to join them all. I am not joining them all. But there are four I would like to be a part of, time and schedule (and mood) allowing. I am not sure this is a goal as much as a plan, hence the addition of "plan" to the topic title.

Historical Book Club ~ I joined this group through my local independent bookstore last fall. It is a small group, so far just three of us, but as someone who leans towards shy around people I don't know well, it proved to be the perfect starter size. (Upcoming reads: Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper, The Reformatory by Tananarive Due, and Ida, In Love and Trouble by Veronica Chambers)

Mystery Book Club ~ Because I love mysteries. (Upcoming reads: Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen, The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, and Murder by Degrees by Ritu Mukerji)

Cellar Door Book Club ~ I joined this group for their October meeting and look forward to reading more with them. (Upcoming reads: The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende, and Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt)

Diverse Romance Book Club ~ I was on the fence about this one simply because four book clubs is a lot and, while I enjoy romance, it's not often my go to genre (although one can argue it has become one of them in recent years). After attending my first meeting of the group last week though and enjoying the company and discussion, I want to try to fit it in too. (Upcoming reads: Hearts UnBroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith and The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava)

Bookish Bingo ~ I thought it would be fun this year to take part in Chapter Break Bookish Bingo, matching the books I read to the categories on the monthly bingo card. "The monthly winner will be the person with the most marked squares. None of that across, diagonal, up and down, corners stuff. Just the number of squares." It is just something fun to do without any real pressure. And it might help in those moments when I am not sure what to read next.  

Storygraph and Goodreads Goal ~ To read one book. I did it! Go me!

 What are your reading goals and plans for this year?  

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© 2025, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Weekly Mewsings: Wind and Fires, Book Clubs & Reviews

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

Texts, messages, and phone calls from distant friends and relatives have been coming in all week asking if my family is safe from the fires in Southern California. We are, fortunately. Seeing photos and videos of the devastation in and around L.A. County is horrific. So much loss. Firefighters from all over, including other countries, have come to help the local firefighters. Their efforts are greatly appreciated and they are in our thoughts constantly. I can't help but think of those who have lost their lives, have been displaced, and all those animals . . . It breaks my heart. There are also stories of people coming together, offering support, and doing what they can to try and ease of some the misery these fires have caused. Those stories give us a glimpse of hope amidst the tragedies. 

On a much smaller scale, my county is on high fire alert due to the high winds and dry brush. Parts of the county have been without power for days due to preemptive shut downs because of the fire risk. Fortunately, our neighborhood wasn't impacted by the power outages, but businesses and neighborhoods just down the road from us and some of our friends and coworkers in the town over cannot say the same. We are expecting the Santa Ana winds to pick back up again today and, I imagine, threats of continued and new power outages are coming. 

Otherwise, it was a fairly normal week for me and my husband with work and school for Mouse. The cats took it easy, although I did hear them chasing each other around the house not to long ago.

What have you been up to? For those of you suffering through extreme weather conditions, please be safe and check in so we know you are okay. 

My slow read of the month is Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande, which I am stretching out over the month. It is just as good as those of you who have read it told me it was. With aging mothers and my husband and I getting up there in years, it is a timely read. 

On my e-reader, I am reading Schooled in Murder (Campus Sleuth Mysteries #1) by Victoria Gilbert. I have enjoyed other books by the author and am not surprised I am liking this one too!

What are you reading right now?

My TBR List was the idea of Michelle at Because Reading, and while Michelle has not been hosting this monthly event for some time now, it's one of my favorite traditions that I cannot bring myself to give up. It's just too much fun! The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books from my TBR pile I am considering reading and let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise).

Thank you to everyone who voted in this month's TBR List Poll. I am glad I let you choose between these three great titles for me because I was having such a hard time deciding for myself. Regardless of which book won, I still plan to read the other two at some point down the road. 

Twenty-seven people weighed in and The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) by Nita Prose won with 14 of the votes, followed by Misery Hates Company (Marigold Manners #1) by Elizabeth Hobbs with 9 votes, and 4 votes went to After the Ocean by Lauren E. Rico. I really enjoyed the first book in Nita Prose's series and look forward to reading The Mystery Guest. It's up next!

Thank you to everyone for voting in this month's TBR List poll!

What are you reading next? 

I finished a record (for me) three books this past week: 

Sandwich by Catherine Newman, narrated by Nan McNamara

Harper Audio, 2024

Fiction, 5hr 43min (236 pgs)

Source: Library

From the beloved author of We All Want Impossible Things, a moving, hilarious story of a family summer vacation full of secrets, lunch, and learning to let go.

For the past two decades, Rocky has looked forward to her family’s yearly escape to Cape Cod. Their humble beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories, sunny days, great meals, and messes of all kinds: emotional, marital, and—thanks to the cottage’s ancient plumbing—septic too.

This year’s vacation, with Rocky sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents, promises to be just as delightful as summers past—except, perhaps, for Rocky’s hormonal bouts of rage and melancholy. (Hello, menopause!) Her body is changing—her life is, too. And then a chain of events sends Rocky into the past, reliving both the tenderness and sorrow of a handful of long-ago summers.

It's one precious week: everything is in balance; everything is in flux. And when Rocky comes face to face with her family’s history and future, she is forced to accept that she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves. [Publisher's Summary]

This was my first book narrated by Nan McNamara, and she did a wonderful job capturing the voice of Rocky. I felt like I was right there on the beach with Rocky, as a friend, listening to her share her memories and her hopes and fears for her children, husband, aging parents, and herself. Rocky's story resonated with me. She is not much older than I am. As the daughter of a senior parent and the mother of a teen, I could relate to so much of what she was going through. I cannot tell you the number of times I cried out, "Yes!" when she described the challenges of menopause, both physical and mental, because I am right there too. I have read articles and an entire book about menopause, but nothing has hit home quite as much as Sandwich did. 

While Rocky's two children are out of the nest and mine is about to enter high school, I could appreciate the waves of nostalgia that came over her with the growing independence of our children as they move on with their lives without their us. I wanted more from Rocky in terms of her relationship with her husband, Nick, feeling at times he got the short end of the stick. But how true is that in many families with children? It was realistic, even if I would have liked for something more. I really like Nick and how supportive he was of Rocky and all she was going through. With all her doubts and even the secrets she kept from him, he stands by her. On the other end is seeing our parents age and trying to figure out exactly what our role is in that. Fortunately my mother is honest and open with me about her health issues, while, in the book, Rocky discovers her parents haven't entirely been with her on that front. Author Catherine Newman adeptly captures the dichotomy of the person in the middle--both the child and the mother at the same time. 

There were aspects of the novel I was less enamored with, including storylines I wish had been explored more or perhaps differently, but overall, I really liked the book. This is more of a character driven novel that is likely not to appeal to everyone. It is the story of a middle-aged woman reflecting on her life, both the present and past. I enjoyed getting to know her family through Rocky's eyes as much as I did getting to know her.  by Sandwich had me laughing and crying throughout. I am glad I took a chance on it. 

Million Dollar Demon (The Hollows #15) by Kim Harrison
Ace, 2021
Fantasy; 464 pgs
Source: From the Publisher via NetGalley

To save the city, Rachel Morgan will need to show some teeth in the next Hollows novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison.

The new master vampire of Cincinnati has arrived . . . and she wants Rachel Morgan out. No matter where Rachel goes, Constance is there—threatening Rachel's allies, causing city-wide chaos, and, to add insult to injury, even forcing Rachel out of her current quarters. Ever since Rachel found a way to save the souls of vampires, the old undead's longtime ascendancy has been broken. Now Constance sees eliminating Rachel as the key to consolidating her own power.

Rachel has no desire to be enthralled or killed—and she's terrified of what may become of the city if Constance forces a return to the ancient ways. But even a witch-born demon can't stand against the old undead—at least, not alone. And if Rachel refuses to claim the role of Cincinnati's master demon, the city will tear itself apart, taking her and all those who stand beside her with it. [Publisher's Summary]

Million Dollar Demon wasn't quite as action-packed as previous novels in the series, but my favorite witch demon got no reprieve from having to be on top of her game in this 15th installment. Rachel considers herself a loner and does not want to be anyone's leader nor does she want to put her friends at risk. She is the kind of person who will try to take everything and everyone on herself before she asks for help, even when her friends and supporters are practically falling over themselves to support her. I love the high energy of this series and I am quite attached to the characters. I miss Ivy, but I have enjoyed getting to know the newer side characters. And it's always good to spend time with Jenks and David. I continue to be impressed with Kim Harrison's world building in this series and can count on each book to thoroughly entertain me. 

The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang
Mira, 2024
Fantasy/Historical; 312 pgs
Source: Own TBR

“What if I told you that the feeling we call love is actually the feeling of metaphysical recognition, when your soul remembers someone from a previous life?”

In the year 4 BCE, an ambitious courtier is called upon to seduce the young emperor—but quickly discovers they are both ruled by blood, sex and intrigue.

In 1740, a lonely innkeeper agrees to help a mysterious visitor procure a rare medicine, only to unleash an otherworldly terror instead.

And in present-day Los Angeles, a college student meets a beautiful stranger and cannot shake the feeling they’ve met before.

Across these seemingly unrelated timelines woven together only by the twists and turns of fate, two men are reborn, lifetime after lifetime. Within the treacherous walls of an ancient palace and the boundless forests of the Asian wilderness to the heart-pounding cement floors of underground rave scenes, our lovers are inexplicably drawn to each other, constantly tested by the worlds around them.

As their many lives intertwine, they begin to realize the power of their undying love—a power that transcends time itself…but one that might consume them both.

An unpredictable roller coaster of a debut novel, The Emperor and the Endless Palace is a genre-bending romantasy that challenges everything we think we know about true love. [Publisher's Summary]

When I found out the Diverse Romance Book Club at the local independent bookstore I frequent was going to be reading and discussing The Emperor and the Endless Palace at their January meeting, I decided to pull it off my TBR shelf and give it a try. I had been putting off reading it because I had read a few reviews about it that gave me pause. And I have to admit, after reading the first two chapters, I nearly did call it quits. What was I in for, I asked myself. But I kept going and am glad I did. 

I am also very glad I decided to attend the book club discussion because this is one of those books that left me with questions and thoughts that I wanted to discuss with others. We all seemed to have similar thoughts on the book. While only one of us gave it a full thumbs up, most of us were somewhere in the middle. 

The three narratives, although seemingly separate, had common threads throughout them. The idea of two people linked by fate and love, reincarnated through several lifetimes may not be a new one, but it was interesting to see the direction author Justinian Huang took it. The first story, of the emperor and the accountant are based on real historical figures (a love that brought down the first Han Dynasty). Other characters from that story were also real life people. The history buff in me could not help but go down that rabbit hole for awhile. The second story is based on a classic folktale written in the 1700's by Pu Songling. It was actually this story that initially hooked me  in the novel. I have a soft sport for fox spirit stories, of which this is one. The third story is set in modern day Los Angeles, a mix of glamor and raves, eventually taking us to Thailand. 

It is hard to say which story was my favorite among the three. It started out as the middle story. I felt terrible for He Shican, especially when his father turned him out because of his interaction with another man. And then that awful betrayal that came later that made me so mad. But somewhere along the way, I became more attached to Dong Xian and Liu Xin's story. How much of this well-manufactured plan of the Grand Empress Dowager Fu's would come to fruition? And what of the intimidating Commander Jujun, who was always hovering? River, from the present day story, though, was perhaps my favorite of the characters introduced (and Calvin, one of those characters you like so much you hope won't turn out to be bad). I wanted to get to know his sister more--but alas, she wasn't the focus of the story (I heard a rumor she may be a protagonist in the next book). River comes across the mysterious Joey at a party, and, as a result, finds himself in dangerous situations as he attempts to find out more about the elusive but very attractive man. 

The author doesn't make it obvious which of the two lovers are who within each story, although sometimes it was more clear to see than at other times. Much of the book club discussion centered around discussing the connections of the various characters, even beyond the two main ones, and also other themes throughout the book. There's mention of a curse, which we all felt left us with more questions than answers. 

I came away from The Emperor and the Endless Palace appreciating the overall novel. Each of the stories examines love, betrayal and heartache. This novel is spicy, although not as much as you might think after reading the opening chapters. One of the questions raised during the book group was if this really counts as a romance novel because, well, at the risk of spoiling the novel, it doesn't have the happy ending romances are known for. Perhaps there will be another book that will provide that happy ending? Or maybe not. As one member suggested, perhaps the happy ending we would expect is not the same as the happy ending that the characters see for themselves. 

If you haven't yet, check out my thoughts on A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara!

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? 

My family and I have resumed our watching of Doctor Who, completing season 14, and started Agatha All Along, which I am excited about finally seeing. 

What have you been watching lately?

Following in the footsteps of Deb of Readerbuzz, who shares three good things in her Sunday Salon posts, I thought I would try to do the same. With all the worries and stressors in life, I want to highlight some of the good, even the seemingly small stuff. 

1. I met my Storygraph and Goodreads goal of reading one book for the year. Yay!

2. Our communal mailbox had been broken into sometime in the last week or two, which means I having to drive out to the main post office to pick up the mail. It's not close and with work and school, getting there when it's open is a challenge. Our mail person surprised us yesterday by delivering almost two week's worth of mail to us. I'm pretty sure it was because we had a few packages that wouldn't have fit in our mailbox anyway, but it was still really nice of them. 

3. I attended my first Diverse Romance Book Club meeting at the local indie bookstore, where we discussed Justinian Huang's The Emperor and the Endless Palace. Tomorrow I will be attending another of the store's many book clubs; the group will be talking about Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. I am really looking forward that discussion as it was my top read of 2024. 

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

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